Before I can even answer her, she unleashes an endless torrent of questions, never letting me get a word in edgewise.

  “How are you alive? What happened to your scars? What’s a ‘The First’? Unknown level? Did you evolve? Just what level are you now? Also, how’d you get so much prettier?! And oh, my gosh, your tail is so soft. How’d you regrow it? How is it so soft?! You brushed it against me a couple times in the meeting, and it felt so nice. Tell me, tell me, tell me! Everything! Pleeeeease!” she gushes.

  At the last few questions, I feel heat build up in my cheeks, but just barely manage to keep it at bay through sheer force of will.

  Wait, prettier? She thought I was pretty before?

  Actually, no. I’m not going to start that shit again. Took me long enough to fix my obsession.

  “Ahem!” I clear my throat loudly to interrupt the barrage. She looks at me expectantly, eyes practically glowing.

  “First, can I use your bath? I got all bloody,” I say.

  It’s just my luck that I get bloody the second I left the System space, my moment of happiness ruined by twitchy archers.

  “Oh! Right, yeah. Go on ahead, I’ll get you some clothes since you’re barely wearing underwear,” she says, looking me up and down with a smirk. “Never took you for an exhibitionist.”

  Instead of trying to win a losing battle, I retreat to the bathroom with as much indignance as I can muster. She just laughs and cracks open the wardrobe to search through her clothes.

  I leave the door open a crack so we can still talk and look around. It’s nothing special, but it brings back memories of us bathing together over the years as we grew up. I even see her favorite bottle of soap on the supplies shelf beside the tub, and I can’t help but smile at the familiarity.

  Her place has always felt more like home to me than the orphanage ever did. With a contented sigh, I start the water before peeling off the tube top and loincloth. I toss them in the corner and will myself to pretend they no longer exist before storing my cloak.

  When I dip my toes in the rising water, I find it’s the perfect temperature. As always. I never could grasp enchantments, but I definitely appreciate them. The ability to conjure water and magically heat it to perfection is undeniably the best creation ever made.

  Cari's in love with them too, obviously. Great minds and all that.

  I go ahead and get settled in and hug my legs, wrapping my tail under them. For a moment I just enjoy the water as it laps against my thighs, higher and higher and sending pleasant tingles of warmth through me.

  But I know I can’t just not talk forever. She'll listen. Not just because she's curious, but because she cares. And I know I need that right now, even if I can shove everything away with Skills and sheer force of will.

  So I begin my story.

  “So, uh, you probably heard the expedition ran into some issues near the end. It turned out really, really bad. Everyone was dying. Everyone was trying to retreat. I ran as best I could, but the ground was shaking a lot. It wasn’t easy, let me tell you.”

  My ears twitch when I hear her stop sifting through her things.

  “I know how that sounds, but seriously—some of the statues were absolutely enormous. Bigger than the Guild. Bigger than the Church. And, uh, one of them noticed me.”

  I keep rambling, trying to maintain a casual tone. But when I get to the moment Agora saved me and how I got flung away, my voice cracks.

  She’s at my side instantly, utterly uncaring that I’m naked. She hugs me tightly from beside the tub, pulling my face into her shoulder this time.

  Then, it’s my turn to cry. I knew that going through my story might bring back the terror and trauma of the memories I tucked away, but I was really hoping to get through it without that. No such luck. Once the first tear fell, I just couldn’t stop.

  I hold onto her like I’m drowning and she’s my only lifeline, but she doesn’t mind. She comforts me all throughout my ugly little breakdown, calmly soothing me and gently petting my head. She takes more liberties than necessary to rub around my ears, but I let it slide because it helps.

  After some time, once I’m put together enough to talk again, I let her go and she steps back, looking at me with nothing but concern. I try talking once more after bringing my knees back up to hide myself.

  “Sorry. And thanks,” I say, glancing back at her before continuing to stare into the water.

  “Anytime, Emi. You’re family,” her voice incredulous, but the response was instant.

  As if it were an obvious truth of the universe. As if it didn’t need saying in the first place, but she did so just to humor me. My heart almost shatters from the unintentional lashing, but I push through. It’s what I deserve, so I’ll take it without complaint.

  “R-right. So, after I landed I’m not exactly sure what happened. I was… well, I was dying,” I say, a slight shiver running down my spine.

  She steps out then, and I pause, confused. She returns a second later with a stack of clothes and sets them on the floor next to the door before closing it. When she starts to strip, I quickly look away and speak up.

  “Er, wait, Cari?!”

  “Mm?” she says, not stopping for one second.

  For a moment, I’m speechless. I know what she’s doing. We grew up as the closest of friends, sharing every moment we could, and this is just how it was. But I couldn’t understand how she’d just return to it despite everything I’d done to her.

  Before I can gather myself enough to object, she slips into the tub, turning off the tap as she does. When she’s fully submerged, the water is up to the crook of my arm, but I can’t focus on the warmth of the water anymore.

  Even though I’d managed to squash my feelings for her, I couldn’t ignore how stunning she was. If I looked at the water, my eyes would catch and linger, but the instant I control my gaze and stare at her face instead, I find her quirking a brow at me expectantly.

  “You were saying?” she asks.

  “Oh, right. Uh… yeah, I got sent flying and was bleeding a lot after I landed. Next thing I knew, I was somewhere else. No in-between at all, just woke up to pain and confusion. You saw the notices about Dungeons?” I ask, and she nods.

  “Well, I was in one somehow. I think the System did that to—or maybe for—me. Saved me somehow. And then I had access to the System!” I practically squeal the last part out, some of my excitement from the time returning to me in the moment and pulling my mind away from the less savory thoughts.

  I continue on like that for a time, telling her everything I can about my adventures and misfortunes. I even tell her about my bangle. Every question I answer brings out two more, and I only realize nearly thirty minutes later that I was also acting like we were the best of friends again.

  I knew it wouldn’t last, but I decided to enjoy it while it did. When her questions finally trickle to a stop, she asks one that I’ve been anticipating for the past ten minutes.

  “So, what level are you now?” she finally asks.

  Instead of telling her, I don a devilish grin and mentally share my Status with her. She spares me a wary glance before her eyes glaze over and she starts checking over my Status.

  As I watch her eyes trace their way down my Status sheet, I take no small amount of pleasure in watching them grow wider and wider as she continues reading. When she looks back at me, I feel like my grin is splitting my face in half.

  “What the fuck, Emi?!” she says.

  “Heh, yeah… trust me, it was a lot for me to take in too.”

  “How in the… two combat classes? And that Manaborn skill is absurd. Two legendaries, and enhancements too, and the synergy of it all… huh, would that work? Wait, obviously, your Wisdom…” she says, gnawing on a fingernail as she starts trailing off and speculating.

  To my surprise, however, instead of going down the theory-crafting hole she often finds herself in when something piques her interest, she shakes herself free of the topic. When her gaze returns to me, her eyes shift elsewhere, almost shyly.

  “I’m glad you’re okay,” she whispers.

  The grin is wiped from my face at that, and before I can think better of it, I’m pushing through the water to hug her. She is the closest thing I’ve ever had to a family since I was found, and I know she feels the same.

  We both grew up in the orphanage. Only difference was she wasn’t Faulted. Or crippled, I guess. Point being, she made a life for herself and let me be a part of it whenever she could. So I would support her when she needed it, no matter what.

  When she starts to shiver and quietly cry in my arms, it takes everything I have not to do the same. Instead, I wrap my tail around her, eliciting a stifled “Oh.” Then she grabs it, causing me to squawk in surprise. I didn’t know it would feel so weird if somebody else grabbed it, but I’m definitely glad I know now.

  She stuffs my tail between us and hugs me closer, pinning it like a pillow. When she stops shaking a few minutes later, I know that I need to tell her everything.

  I hadn’t expected her to react this strongly to me going missing. I had thought that… well, I don’t know what I thought. I definitely don’t know what she thought. I just need to clear the air between us once and for all. She deserves at least that much.

  “Cari… I have something to tell you,” I whisper, pulling back from her slightly.

  She tenses at the words, but looks at me expectantly.

  “I’m sorry. For… everything. For distancing myself. For brushing you off all those times. For not answering your questions. For not reciprocating your friendship. All of it. I… I was… ugh. This is so hard!” I say, squirming back to the other side of the tub, praying the space will make it easier.

  “Why is it hard? I figured you just were going through hard times, and it’s understandable, you know, given your status at the time… I know it was never easy for you." She doesn't look at me, but I can still see the pain she's trying to hide.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  “No! That wasn’t it at all. Look at me, Cari… I need to tell you this straight-up,” I say, my voice just a bit firmer. When she looks up finally, eyes filled with worry, I just blurt it out before I can talk myself down.

  “I liked you. A lot. Way too much. The romantic kind.”

  At that, her eyes widen with shock.

  “Oh. Oh! Wai—” she starts, but I hold out a hand and interrupt her.

  “I know it isn’t reciprocated, and that you don’t even like girls. Believe me, I know. But that’s why I felt I had to distance myself from you. My… infatuation… had become unhealthy. For both of us. That day you invited me over and introduced me to your then boyfriend really got to me. I was so… ugh. I was angry, jealous, and…,” I say, rambling as I struggle to find the right words.

  “Oh gods, Emi, I’m so sorry! I didn’t—” she says, panicking.

  “Stop! Don’t you dare apologize. This was me. I built this fantasy around you all by myself for years. All you did was treat me like a person, and I turned it into something else. So I had to distance myself, fix my mindset. And I did fix it! But I saw how much it hurt you, and it broke my heart every day, seeing you so sad. And I’m so fucking sorry, Cari,” I say, a few tears spilling from my eyes again.

  After a few seconds of her stunned silence, I turn away and start to stand up, intent on getting out of the tub and giving her the space she deserves.

  “I messed up bad, not telling you sooner. I’m going to give you some space, let you think and—”

  “Oh, no you don’t!” she says with a grunt as she yanks my tail.

  I let out an indignant squeak and tumble back into the tub, sending a massive wave of water over the edge. But before I can retaliate she’s already wrapped me up in a bone-crushing hug from behind. I stay stock still and deathly silent, uncertainty and confusion warring for dominance in my mind.

  After a few moments, she speaks. It’s barely a whisper, but I can hear the emotions warring in her voice. “Do… do you still feel that way? About me?”

  I pale at the question.

  “No! I mean, I still think you’re freaking gorgeous, but I don’t see you like that anymore. Ugh, this is so awkward!” I say, hiding my face in my hands.

  The water sloshes as she lets me go and spins me around to face her. She gently pulls my hands down, holding them in her own, and I just sit there, frozen and terrified.

  “Okay,” she sighs, her relief clear.

  I recoil. “Wait, what? What do you mean ‘Okay’?”

  “I mean, I get why it turned out that way for you. It actually makes a lot of sense now,” she says with a shrug. “You told me you like girls, I just never... well, whatever."

  She lets out a sigh.

  "Honestly, I’m sorry I didn't realize how you felt about me sooner. I never thought much about how we treated each other until you started pulling away. Even then, I thought you just didn’t want to be friends anymore. But I get it now. And I forgive you.”

  Then she starts tugging me closer.

  “Um… really? That’s it? You’re not, I don’t know, worried I might catch feelings again or something?” I say, still stiff as a board.

  She scoffs at that and maneuvers one of my arms around her, making me hug her before speaking.

  “Of course I’m not worried. Besides, now that I know, I’ll just shut you down if you try anything again. And like you said, I don’t like girls. Even if you are stupidly, ridiculously, unfairly pretty now,” she finishes with a jealous scowl.

  Before I can say anything back, she huffs angrily and starts wiggling violently.

  “That said, you have always been the better snuggler. So snuggle, you lazy fox! Make-up snuggles don’t work if only one of us is doing the snuggling!”

  I can’t help but bark out a laugh, the yips and chirps of my bestial nature cutting through the noise and causing her to pull back slightly. When I finally meet her gaze, I freeze under the glare she’s sending my way.

  “Even your laugh is pretty. How's that fair?” she mutters, puffing her cheeks in an overly dramatic pout.

  That just gets me laughing again, and she starts grumbling good-naturedly. Several minutes later, she pulls away from the cuddles.

  “Okay, I feel better. Do you?” she asks.

  I just nod while doing my best to keep my eyes above her neckline, heat still prickling across my cheeks. Unfortunately, she notices.

  She reaches out once more, placing both of her hands on my cheeks and forcing me to meet her now serious gaze.

  “Emi. I don't care. Look all you want, just don’t be weird about it. You already said you don’t feel that way anymore, and I made my feelings on the matter clear. So you like girls. So what? I can appreciate a little attention from someone I’m comfortable with and trust. So relax, okay? I want us to be like we were before. Please?” she says, staring into my eyes as if trying to push her intent directly into my brain.

  “Okay, okay, fine, let me go,” I mumble through my squished cheeks.

  “Yay!” she squeals, immediately smothering me between her breasts.

  Spluttering, I push her back and glare. I’m met with a far too familiar shit-eating grin, and I gape with sudden realization.

  No… she wouldn’t! Oh, Gods, she absolutely would.

  “What? I never said I wouldn’t tease you,” she says.

  “Oh, you bitch!” I growl out with a blush, before immediately starting a splash war in the tub.

  Just like when we were kids. I can't help but feel like she played me.

  Damn, she’s good.

  We only manage to get back under control when we are forced to refill the tub. We finally get ourselves cleaned up, and she helps me scrub the blood from my back where the arrow went through my shoulder.

  By the time we’re done, we’re side by side against the back of the tub, with my head resting on her shoulder so I can bat at her with my ears. She giggles at my antics before moving to stand, and I let her.

  She hops out of the tub and over to the cabinet to towel off. I watch, but hop out to join her with a blush the moment she gives me a knowing smirk.

  “Sorry,” I say sheepishly.

  She just chuckles. “You know, in hindsight, I’m not sure how I didn’t notice the way you looked at me before. I must’ve been blind as a bat, because you are definitely not as subtle as you think.”

  I just keep my head down, embarrassed at being caught, until we start getting dressed. Sifting through the clothes she set aside for me, I stop suddenly and hold up the bra she chose, looking at her with undisguised confusion.

  “What? I didn’t know what would fit you, so I grabbed a few options. It looked like you filled out a bit, but I don’t make a point at staring at your boobs," she says, mercilessly ignoring the flush her words bring to my face. “Now that I get a good look though, it’s obvious my bras are too big for a certain Foxkin,” she finishes.

  As she speaks, she gives me the look, daring me to take her bait. I rise to the challenge.

  “Pff, okay. Why do you humans even need tits that big anyways? Us foxes have litters, and we get by with just this,” I say, motioning to my own chest. “What’s your excuse? Or are you just eating too much?” I finish, grinning evilly.

  “Uh-huh. Clearly, you like them this big. Don’t think for a moment I’ll let you live that down,” she says, her grin far more sinister than my own.

  And just like that, she won.

  The comment causes me to splutter as the heat in my face intensifies, but she just continues to get dressed. With a huff, I throw her bra at her and start getting dressed myself.

  She’d picked out a cute outfit for me. There was a pair of simple black trousers with a belt, and a white sleeveless top. It looked to be one of the outfits she would train in. I always loved how cool it made her look, so I was excited to see how it looked on me.

  The underwear were snug and comfortable. Probably something she'd outgrown and never tossed. I was more than glad she hadn't, since I'd have had to go without otherwise. There weren't any accommodations for my tail, but I could just tuck them underneath.

  It'd only be scandalous if I lifted my tail as high as I could. I'd seen other beastkin with clothes made with a divot in them for tails that would show more skin, but they were clearly purpose made. I'd never owned anything like that myself, but I'm more than a little excited to get some after I sell the axes and arcanite.

  Like she promised, there were a few options for my chest—but even the smallest bra she picked out wouldn’t work for me. I made a show of tossing each one at her, and she rewarded me with giggles. Thankfully, she'd also brought a white chest wrap that would offer just the right coverage and support.

  And it looked great with the top.

  I got her to help me put it on before slipping into the rest. Just as I was finishing, she dashes out of the bathroom, then returns a moment later with a sturdy pair of sandals.

  “I’d give you my other pair of boots, but I might need them. We can go shopping later, since I doubt that your stuff is still at the orphanage after all this time,” she says, holding them out to me.

  I scoff, “Yeah, they were all too eager to throw me to the streets even before I went ‘missing’.”

  My voice is laced with a bitterness she’d grown familiar with over the years, and she nods in agreement. Instead of saying anything more, she sidles up behind me to brush out my hair, and I take the opportunity to groom my tail before returning the favor.

  Finally cleaned, dressed, and presentable, we make our way back into the main area of her apartment. The moment we sit down, though, she speaks.

  “Alright,” she says, her voice serious again. “Tell me how you plan to not die.”

  I write, erase, rewrite

  Erase again, and then

  A poppy blooms.

  - Katsushika Hokusai

  six times. I was never quite happy with it until now.